Ratchet wrench



g- 1952 e. w. M CHEYNE RATCHET WRENCH Filed March 15, 1949 FIG.I

INVENTOR. GEORGE W. MAC CHEYNE mm do ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 26, 1952 RATCHET WRENCH George W. MacCheyne, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Stromberg-Carlson Company, a corporation of NewYork Application March 15, 1949, Serial No. 81,497

'1 Claims. (Cl. 81-60) This invention relates to a ratchet wrench, and more particularly to such a wrench especially adapted for use with relatively freely movable fasteners.

When the ordinary ratchet wrench is employed to tighten or loosen fasteners such as nuts or screws of relatively small size, which turn rather freely, difficulty is experienced in securing full advantage of the ratchet operation. When the handle of the Wrench is moved backward to secure a new bite, the fastener has the tendency to rotate with the handle, with the result that little or no progress is made in rotating the fastener in the desired direction. If the fastener and hence the wrench itself are of relatively large size, this difliculty may be obviated by preventing such undesired rotation manually, the operator merely engaging the fastener or the wheel member of the wrench with the fingers of one hand while operating the handle of the wrench with the other hand. When relatively small fasteners are to be actuated, however, and the wrench itself is relatively small, it is difiicult if not impossible for the operator conveniently to grasp the fastener or the ratchet wheel member of the wrench for the purpose of resisting rotation in the undesired direction, and the thread frictionvis too small to prevent such rotation. Such difiiculties are especially pronounced in connection with the small fasteners and close clearances encountered in ultra-high frequency plumbing, as for example in the assembly and dissembly of wave guides or the like.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an improved ratchet wrench incorporating as a part thereof an arrangement for preventing rotation of the fastener in the undesired direction as the wrench is operated in the customary manner.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved ratchet wrench in which compact and simple means are provided for preventing undesired rotation of the fastener and which is adapted for one-hand operation by the operator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved ratchet wrench in which a light and harmless contact with a surface either parallel with or normal to the axis of the fastener being turned prevents rotation in an undesired direction of the fastener during operation of the wrench.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided, in a ratchet wrench adapted for rotating a fastener such as va nutv or the like which is relatively freely movable with respect to a fixed member, a handle member. There is also provided a ratchet wheel member rotatively mounted in the handle member and being adapted to positively engage the fastener to be turned. A pawl member, carried by the handle member, is adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel member. There is also provided a foot member, which is adapted to engage the fixed member and to cooperate with the ratchet wheel member for resisting relative rotation in at least one direction between these two members.

In one preferred embodiment of the presen invention, frictional engagement is provided between the foot member and the ratchet wheel member. In one modification of the present invention, a second pawl member is mounted on the foot member and adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel member, thereby to prevent rotation of the ratchet wheel member in a direction opposite to that of the rotation resulting from engagement of the first pawl member with the ratchet wheel member. In another modification of the present invention, the foot member comprises a helical spring fixedly mounted upon the ratchet wheel member and adapted frictionally to engage the fixed member, preferably in an area thereof adjacent the fastener being turned.

The above and other objects and features of the present invention will be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which like components are designated by like reference numerals and in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively front and side elevations of a ratchet wrench in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a partly dissembled front elevation of the ratchet wrench of Fig. 1; 3

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on the line 4-4 of the view of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 illustrates one application of the ratchet wrench in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a partly dissembled front elevation of a'modified form of the present invention; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively front and side elevations of another modification of the present invention.

Referring to Figs. 1-4, there is shown a ratchet wrench l0 comprising a handle member II, a ratchet wheel member 12, rotatively mounted with respect to handle I l by means of sideplates l3 and H, which in turn are secured to handle member II by any suitable means, as for example by machine screws I5.

Member 12 is provided with an axially disposed opening 16 which is preferably hexagonal in shape. A removable member I! is frictionally secured in opening l6. Member I! is used when the wrench 'is to ibeiemployedfor turning screws having asocket head, and is removed from the wrench for the tightening or loosening of nuts adapted to be directly engaged by opening [6.

As clearly shown in Fig. 3, a pawl member 18 is provided, and is disposed in a suitable slot '19 in handle II. Pawl member :IBiis maintained in engagement with the ratchet wheel :20 portion of member [2 by means of a spring 2|.

Handle member H is also provided with aslot 22, into which is fitted a foot member '23 preferably formed of a wire-like rod having a relatively straight base portion 24, a first end portion 25 suitably looped toengage a groove in ratchet wheel-member 12,-and aisecondiend portion 26 arranged to frictionally engage ratchet wheel member 12, as clearly shown in :Fig. 4.

The operation of the ratchet wrench of Figs. 14 is clearly shown in Fig. 5, in which wrench i'is illustrated'being utilized to turna fastener 21 of the type having a socket head. In this particular application, pasteners 21 are utilizedto join-sections'28iand 29 of a wave guide. Since fasteners 21 in this instance comprise screws of the'socket-head type, wrench l0 isused with the member I! in place in ratchet wheel member [2, the-ends of member l'lprotruding :farenough on either side to permit ready engagement with the socket in fastener 21. As clearly shown in .Fig. 5, foot member 23 touches orrests against a surfaceaof wave guide 28, thus-remaining relativelyifixed'in position as the wrench is operated. The contact between ;member 23 and ratchet wheel member i 2 effectively prevents rotation in one direction for the fastener 21 which is being turned in the opposite direction. When rota tion of fastener 21 in the'reversedirection. is desired, wrench I0 is merely :faced about, so that the fopposi'te'end of member I-I engages fastener 21.

Fig. fiillustrates-a modification of the present invention, in which .a footmember 30 is :pivotally mounted with respect to ratchet wheel member IZ byanysuitable'means3-l. Foot memb'cr fl isiprovided with a second pawl member 32, which is suitably mounted, as for example on a-fiat spring member 33,to engage ratchet Wheel portion 20 ofimember l2. Inwthismodification, rotation of member l2:in the undesired'directionis:positively prevented by the cooperation :of pawl 32'wi-th ratchetwheel portion 20.

In Figs? and 8, there is shown another modii'lcation' of the present inventionwhich is'specifically adapted for use in turning fasteners protruding from a relativelytlarge :fiat surf ace. As :in the previously describedembodimen't, the ratchet wheel member l2 is rotatively mounted 'in the handle member 11, andis provided with" an "opening 16 into which may be inserted the rod-like member Fl. For the purpose of preventingrotation of member i=2 :in the undesired direction, there lare provided ahpair of springs 34- and :35, preferably helically-shaped. The ends of-each of these springs are fixedly mounted or secured to ratchet wheel member 2 in any suitable-manner, as for example byhaving aloop -36-formed in-the endfithereof and adapted for vengagingianon circuhriportion zofzratchet wheel member'ill iizs 4 shown in Fig. 7. The outer ends of springs 3i and 35 are arranged to frictionally engage the surface through which a fastener to be turned extends. The outer ends of these springs may be flattened and, if desired, provided with serrations whereby better to grip the adjacent surface and thus to remain immobile with respect thereto as the retumstroke is made; I

Although," in the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 1-5 of the drawing and described above, the foot members 23 and 30 are of a fixed configuration, it is within the scope of the present invention to provide the foot members with an adjustment which permits-engagement thereof with the :adjacentsurface irrespective of the spacing above the surface of the fastener to be turned, as this dimension is varied between relatively wide limits. In general, however, such an adjustment is not required,.since it is not essential in the successful use of the ratchet wrench of the present invention that fixed member or 30 haveits bottom or outerportion remain ,in full contact with. the surface. Any contact of the foot member with the surface which prevents its substantial rotation as the wrench is operated is sufiicient,

While there hasxbeen described what is at pres+ ent considered-the preferred embodiment -,of the invention, it will be obvious to :those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing-fromthe invention, and it is, .therefore, aimed in the -ap-. pended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: V V

1. In a ratchet wrench adapted for rotating .a fastener such as a pm or the like which isrelativelyfreely movable with respect to a relatively, fixed member, a handle member, a ratchet wheel. member rotatively-mounted in said handle member and being adapted to positively engage said fastener reversibly in one of two positions, a pawlmember carried by said handle member and adapted to engage theteeth 'of said-ratchet'wheel member, and a foot :member adapted to engage said fixed-member and to cooperate with said ratchet wheel member for resistingrelative rotation in both directions between said footmember; and said ratchet wheel :member, whereby said fastener is rotatediin'a directiondependingtupon the relative position of saidwrench in the fastener engaging position.

'2. In a -ratchet Wrench adapted fonrotatingsa fastener such" as a nut or :the like which .is relativelyfreelymovable with respect tozairelatively. fixed member, a handlememben. a ratchet wheel member rotatively mounted ainsaidzhandielm'emre her and being adapted to .positively' engage said fastener reversibly in oneaof two 'positionaiazpawl member carried :by' said-:handlermemberi and adapted to :engagefthe teeth'ofsaid' ratchetwheel member, a .foot member adapted :to engage :said fixed member and being? 'pivotally fmountedlwith' respect to .saidzratchet wheel'member, andimeans for resisting relative rotation in both directions between saidifootmemberiand .said ratchet-wheel member, whereby saidifasteneris rotated inra direction "depending. upon. the :relative position '0! said wrench in the fastener -:engagin position.

3. In a ratchet wrench adapted :forrotatinga fastener such-asa nut or the like which :is:rela-. tively freely movable with respect "tOffl relatively fixed member, a handle'member, a ratchet wheel member rotativelyamounted in saidhandle mem her: and; beinguadapted .t'o :'.positive1y: engage fastener, a pawl member carried by said handle member and adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet wheel member, a foot member formed of material having a length great in comparison with its cross-sectional dimensions, said foot member being formed into a generally looped configuration such that one end of said loop bears against a portion of said ratchet wheel member with its outer surface while the other end of said loop bears against another portion of said ratchet wheel member with its inner surface, whereby said ratchet wheel member is frictionally engaged between the ends of said foot member.

' 4. In a ratchet wrench adapted for rotating a fastener such as a nut or the like which is relatively freely movable with respect to a relatively fixed member, a handle member, a ratchet wheel member rotatively mounted in said handle member and being adapted to positively engage said fastener, a pawl member carried by said handle member and adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet wheel member, and a foot member formed of a material having a length great in comparison with its cross-sectional dimensions, said foot member being formed into a generally looped configuration such that one end of said loop bears against a portion of said ratchet wheel member with its outer surface while the other end of said loop bears against another portion of said ratchet Wheel member with its inner surface, whereby said ratchet wheel member is frictionally engaged between the end of said foot member, said looped configuration having a flattened portion formed therein in a position adapted to engage said fixed member.

5. In a ratchet, wrench adapted for rotating a fastener such as a nut or the like which is relatively freely movable with respect to a relatively fixed member, a handle member, a ratchet wheel member rotatively mounted in said handle member and being adapted to positively engage said fastener, a first pawl member carried by said handle member and adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet wheel member to provide rotation thereof in one direction, a foot member adapted to engage said fixed member and being pivotally mounted with respect to said ratchet Wheel member, and means for resisting rotation of said ratchet wheel member in the opposite direction, said means comprising a second pawl member mounted upon said foot member and adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet wheel member.

6. In a ratchet wrench adapted for rotating a fastener such as a nut or the like which is relatively freely movable with respect to a relatively fixed member, a handle member, a ratchet wheel member rotatively mounted in said handle memv said fixed member.

7. In a ratchet wrench for rotating a fastener such as a nutor the like within the flange of a wave guide, said fastener being relatively freely movable relative to said flange, a handle member, a ratchet wheel member rotatively mounted in said handle member and adapted to positively engage haid fastener, a pawl member carried by said handle member and adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet wheel member, and a foot member made of wire formed into a generally looped configuration such that one end of said loop bears against a portion of said ratchet wheel member with its outer surface while the other end of said loop bears against another portion of said ratchet wheel member with its inner surface, whereby said ratchet wheel member is frictionally engaged between the ends of said foot member, said foot member having a flattened portion positioned to rest against the body of said wave guide when said ratchet wheel member engages said fastener in said flange.

. GEORGE W. MACCHEYNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

